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LarSim
11-04-2006, 09:29 AM
As the Marine Corps Birthday approaches, it got me thinking how I celebrated it when I was on active duty (4-years):

1959 - I was still in Boot Camp at Parris Island. My Platoon was on Mess Duty. Some of us had Mess Duty at the Senior SNCO's Mess. A lunch to remember for all time. The Senior SNCOs had their own lunchtime celebration with a huge birthday cake. After the Senior SNCO lunch and ceremony, the cook left us to our own devices for lunch as he made his way to the Enlisted Club to toss back a few. He stipulated that for dessert, we could have only one serving of dessert. We used dinner plates for dessert! A huge piece of birthday cake topped with ice cream, strawberries, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and multiple cherries on top. The Senior SNCOs complained the next morning that there was no birthday cake left over to enjoy with their morning coffee. :D

1960 - I was a Pfc assigned to MAG-16, 1st Marine Air Wing at Futema, Okinawa. We had a Birthday celebration at a nightclub in Naha. It was a great time, complete with strippers and an open bar. I was part of the Honor Guard for the cake cutting ceremony. As I stood at attention during the ceremony, I couldn't tell if the Marine in front of me was swaying or if it was me swaying. We were both as drunk as lords. I "screwed the pooch" that night. I had a date with one of the attending bar girls for after the festivities, a beautiful young nei-san. I was so drunk at the end of the night, I just piled into a cab with my buddies. I didn't remember the date until the following morning, which just added to my hang-over distress (Damn! :( ).

1961 - I was a Lance Corporal with the 2nd Pioneer Bn (Combat Engineers), 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. An uneventful celebration, I don't remember anything significant.

1962 - I was a Corporal with the 2nd Pioneer Bn (Combat Engineers), 2nd Marine Division. We were deployed aboard the LST USS Lorain County for the Cuban Missile Crisis somewhere at sea in the Caribbean. I think the swabbies made us a birthday cake for our dinner dessert that day.

Semper Fidelis and Happy Birthday!

- LarSim :cool:

cmyr
11-07-2006, 07:02 AM
My first Marine Corps Birthday (as a PFC), I attended the Birthday Ball on base. I got all gussied up in a full-length gown, the hair done up just right, etc. It was amazing how many of my fellow Marines didn't recognize me in civilian clothes! :D

For my second Birthday celebration, I baked and decorated a 9 x 13 cake. Then I grabbed my official USMC letter opener and proceeded to the local "gathering place" of retired Marines. I will never forget the look on SgtMaj Fritz's face when I said "Happy Birthday!" and presented him with the cake for cutting. I spent the rest of that afternoon listening to the SgtMaj and the other retirees telling me stories of Guadalcanal, etc. :)

This year, it will be a 1950's Navy machinist's mate, a Viet Nam era corspman, and myself gathering to reminisce. I'll be making the low-fat :( , low cholesterol :( , goodies for us to share.

Happy Birthday and Semper Fi all!!

Marine53
11-09-2006, 07:54 AM
1954 Gitmo Bay, Cuba.
I had just been promoted to Corporal (E-3). A British cruiser tied up. The Royal Marines joined us for the celebration. It got wild. One RM sang Danny Boy. The only time the place was quiet. The celebration was held at the E Club at mainside. I lived over at Leeward Point. We got back and forth across the bay in launches.
What a place Gitmo was in those days.Lot of memories.
Semper Fi

MARINE42
11-09-2006, 11:14 AM
my frist was on the rock 60 we all went to main side
came back to base on the blood bus
you had to be there to understand about the blood bus